Trattoria Mercatto — Restaurant in Toronto

Overall 3.5 stars experience. We got the shrimp cocktail for starters, the lasagna and linguine di mare for entrées, and as dessert; lemon tart and tiramisu.

You’d imagine for the price point that they are at, they would be doing a lot better. The table next to us was basically being used to stack all dirty dishes. Like did they not have enough room in the kitchen for it to be stacked away? Very unprofessional. Our servers were constantly changing, but that i don’t care because i get how it can be busy. When i asked if they could make me a Cacio é pepe, the waiter had no clue what that was. Quite odd for a medium-high end ITALIAN restaurant.

The shrimp cocktail was good, i liked the presentation on the seaweed. The linguine was average but i liked the amount of seafood in it - good ratio to the pasta. The lasagna was terrible and a lazy take on a lasagna. The lasagna was just the pasta pastry stacked on top of one another and covered in parm. And the sauce was not part of the pasta but all around the plate instead. Cooking it that way prevents the pasta from cooking in the sauce so i’m not sure what the intention of that was. The lemon tart was good, not too sweet and good amount of lemon. The tiramisu had to be one of the worst i have ever had. Again, another lazy take of a signature plate. Instead of soaking the biscuit in the coffee/rum/or whatever sauce, it was simply placed on top of the filling? And then whipped cream sprayed on top. That caused the biscuit to be crunchy instead of soft… not a tiramisu!

Only good was service...

I’ve dined at this restaurant several times before and have generally enjoyed the food and atmosphere. However, our most recent visit left us disappointed.

One of our party received a pizza that was served raw. While the kitchen remade it, the rest of us waited so we could eat together. By the time her replacement pizza arrived, our meals were cold. Given the circumstances, we felt her pizza should have been compensated, but it wasn’t and we didn’t make an issue of it at the time since the restaurant was busy and our server was clearly stretched thin.

When the bill arrived, we asked for separate checks. Our server didn’t follow our request and brought the bill in a different format. When we asked if she could split it in a specific way, she abruptly left, seeming not to listen well and said as she walked away, that if it didn’t work, she’d have to just divide it by four? I explained that I had dined there many times before and splitting the bill had never been an issue. When she returned, she told me I was being “demeaning.” I was taken aback — I felt judged and that her frustration was being directed at us rather than handled professionally.

To make matters worse, when the bills finally came back, three of them — including mine — were wrong, and I was overcharged. I was so flustered by her accusations we all were, that I didn’t realize the bill was wrong. It was an unfortunate end to what we had hoped would be an enjoyable meal. I understand busy nights can be stressful, but this experience left us feeling unwelcome and...

Trattoria Mercatto

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Trattoria Mercatto, a beautifully designed Italian restaurant that blends classic charm with a modern, inviting ambiance. The interior is tastefully decorated and features a lovely patio space, perfect for a relaxed yet elegant dining experience. An open bar adds to the vibrant atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for both casual get-togethers and special evenings out.

Their menu offers an impressive variety of authentic Italian dishes. I ordered the Pan-seared Lasagna — a rich and comforting combination of ricotta, mozzarella, besciamella, and ragù Bolognese — and the Pollo alla Diavola, featuring perfectly spiced chicken served with creamy fregola, pancetta, and kale. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, reflecting a high standard of fine dining.

To accompany the meal, I enjoyed a glass of red wine that paired seamlessly with the flavors of the evening. For dessert, I indulged in the Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake — a decadent treat served with sponge toffee, Fior Gelato, Bing cherries, and almonds. It was the perfect sweet finish to an exceptional meal.

The service was outstanding throughout; the staff was attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming.

In summary, Trattoria Mercatto offers a truly memorable dining experience — delicious cuisine, elegant surroundings, and top-notch service. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Italian flavors in a...